JOIN CRC DEC 11 FOR POST-ELECTION ANALYSIS

Last week, Caltrain announced it had sold 19 of its F40 locomotives and 90 of its recently retired gallery cars to Lima, Peru, for a new commuter rail service. The equipment was deemed surplus following the electrification of Caltrain between San Francisco and San Jose. Caltrain is being paid $6 million for the locomotives and cars.

These trains, most built in the 1980s, have a long and proud legacy of service that we’re proud to pass along to the people of Peru. The F40s hold a special place in the heart of train enthusiasts, and there’s no better task for them than to keep helping people get where they need to go. - Caltrain Board Chair Dev Davis.

In addition to the cars and locomotives, 50% of the related supplies for this project, including rails and signals, came from US companies.

Lima aims to accommodate 200,000 passengers daily with these new rail cars, easing traffic and cutting commuting times. This project marks a key step toward modernizing Lima’s transportation systems and meeting international standards; eventually Lima hopes to replace these engines with electric. By launching this commuter rail service, Lima tackles congestion and improves urban mobility on their way to a sustainable future, and positively impacts a vulnerable population living with ecological damage and political unrest.

A donation ceremony in Peru was attended by both American and Peruvian dignitaries, including Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Lima Mayor Rafael López Aliaga.

During the ceremony, Mayor Aliaga presented a medal to both President Biden and Secretary Blinken, thanking them for making the project a reality.

Great projects need great collaboration and partnership. I’d also like to acknowledge the partnership between many people and organizations here, including the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Embassy in Lima, the mayor, his staff, RDC, and the FCC team – CCA team. This agreement will support Peru in its sustainability and mobility improvements, and our former Caltrain passenger cars and locomotives will enable the start of new commuter service in greater Lima, cleaner air for commuters and community members, and the access to opportunity that great public transportation provides. Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard

CRC’s next quarterly New Member Orientation has been scheduled for Monday, December 2 at 2 p.m. eastern. Reach out here if you would like
a link and join us for a 60-minute refresher with chair Mike Noland (NICTD/South Shore Line), CEO KellyAnne Gallagher, and director
of government affairs John Cline.

CYBERSECURITY AND THE TRANSPORT SECTOR

Earlier this week the House Homeland Security Committee held a hearing on the Impacts of Emergency Authority Cybersecurity Regulations on the Transportation Sector. Panelists included officials from the Transportation Security Administration, GAO, American Gas Association, and AAR. Find the written testimonies and recording here.

U.S. RAIL SECTORS WORK TO MITIGATE CAPACITY AND PRICING RISK ISSUES

U.S. freight and commuter rail industries are facing excess liability and property issues for different reasons. These railroads are critical to infrastructure and vital to the economy, yet finding effective solutions remains complex.

Read the full article at AON.com.

WHAT WE’RE READING

• SEPTA Announces Major Fare Increase Proposal Beginning Next Year (Mass Transit Magazine)

• Could SEPTA be Saved from Fiscal Cliff by Federal Infrastructure Funds? Some City Council Members Think So. (Philly Voice)

• Under Trump, Prepare for New US Transportation Priorities (Bloomberg)

• Fiscal Cliff Challenges for Public Transit: How can Kuba Help Agencies? (Kubapay.com)

• Lima to Launch Commuter Rail Service with Withdrawn Caltrain Fleet (Railway Gazette)

• University of Virginia Publishes Study on VPRA’s Transforming Rail in Virginia Initiative Detailing Economic and Social Benefits (Mass Transit Magazine)

• Amtrak, NJ Transit Making Progress on NEC Service Reliability (Mass Transit Magazine)

• $6.87M Grant to Fund Railroad Research Center at Penn State (Penn State)